Spinning machine



March 13, 1956 K. R. THOMPSON 2,737,916

SPINNING MACHINE Filed April 19. 1949 2 Sheets$heet l I J I 6 I l 77 p"2/ I 13; 9

I l EFL, I 4;

United States Patent This invention relates to assembly machines and inparticular refers to a machine for interconnecting parts soas to providethem with a predetermined initial set with respect to relative movementcaused by the subsequent application of external forces.

An illustrative embodiment of the principles of the invention is amachine for assembling the resilient valve port-closure to theported'valve plug of. base valves ofthe type which form a part of shockabsorbers. The valve plug is a body having a' plurality of angularlyspaced apertures'or ports as well as a central tubular portion or neckwhich may be integral or provided by ahollow rivet. The closure is aflexible disk which fits over the ports and is mounted on the plug neck.In assembly the neck is-spun or turned down on'the disk and theextent ofspinning determines the initial set of. the disk and thus the minimumiluidrpressure required. for flow through the ports of the base'valve.

With respectto the assembly of base valves,'-itis an object-of theinvention to provide a machinewhich indicates the pressure of thediskon-thevalve plug ports during assembly so that the-extent ofspinning may be accurately regulated to provide thedesired initial. disksetting.

In'accompli-shing this object, the invention, in a preferred form,contemplates the-manualcontrol by an operator of the axial force withwhich the spinningv tool is driven against the plugneck. This controlisvexercised: through the medium of a suitable handle or lever whichwhen moved by the-operator; forces the spinning tool-toward or from theneck. Movement. of the handle controls two circuits which incombinationserveto visually indicate to the operator the pressure that he hasapplied to the flexible disk by means of the spinningoperation. Thefirst'of these circuits is actuatedduring downward movement to cause amovablejigtoengage the base valve being assembled and forcibly hold itin adesired position; The

second of these circuits is actuated after the-first has completed itsfunction to apply fluid pressure to the disk closure and to visuallyindicate the magnitude of this pressure. Since this pressure-graduallyincreases from zero as the spinning operation proceeds,v theoperatorcancease actuation of the handle or downward feed of the spinning tool whenit reaches the desired value. I-n'this manner thepresent machineinsures'the uniform andaecu rate procurement'of the desired initialsetting of the disk.

.It will lie-evident that the principles of-the inventionas illustratedin the specific embodiment herein described are capable of more generalapplication; hence the object of the invention may be more broadlystated as being to provide a machine for interconnecting parts in whichfluid pressure is applied during assembly to efiect 'a control of theinitial set of. the parts with respect to relative movement caused bythe subsequent application of exte'rnal forces.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1a is a plan view of the workpiece;

Fig. 1b is a cross'section of theworlipiece;

2. Fig. 1 is a" perspective view of one form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is'a section taken on line2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3'is asection'taken on line 3''-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a section taken online44 of Fig. 2; and

Figs. 5 and 6' are sections taken. on'lines 55 and 6-6' the materialsurrounding its inner periphery. The extent of this spinning determinesthe fluid deflect the disk D and E in the valve body.

The machine includes'a stationary frame 1 and table 3. Abed 5 or lowersupport for the workpiece is afiixed to pressure required to permit flowthrough the apertures the table 3: The bed 5 hasa suitable recess 7which conforms to the periphery of thebase valve A and serves to alignthe latter with the axis of the tool shank 9. The tool shank-9 isrotated by suitable means and axially fed by movement of the handle 11which rotates a shaft 13 that is suitably connected to the shank 9. Itwill be recognized that the shank 9- and' the means for rotating andfeeding it comprise a conventionaldrill press. The

spinning tool 15 is mounted onthe bottom of the shank 9 and is thusarranged to operatively'engage the neck C for spinning it over upon theflexible disk D.-

In order tomeasure the extent of spinning during the actual assemblyoperation, the'recess -7 communicates with a pressure chamber 17withinthe'bed 5 and, to prevent undesired escape of pressure fluid, theperiphery of the recess 7 is provided with an O or other suitablesealing ring 19 upon whichthe'workpiece A seats. The chamber 17 may beformed in the bed5 by a suitable boring operation and, if so,1a plug 21may be placed in the chamber to reduce its volume. Pressurefluid;.preferably oil, from asuitable sourceis-admitted to the chamber17 through a conduit 23' and desirably'passesthrough an orifice plug 251Thepressure in chamber 1 7 is, of course, dependent upon the resistanceof the disk D to flow through the apertures E which furnishthe onlyavenues of escape for fluid in-ch'amber 1 7 andis visually indicate-d bya gauge 27 which is connected tothe chamber 17 by a conduit 29.

Pressure from the chamber 17 tends to lift the base valve A fromitsseatyupon the O-ring'19. To prevent this,

means are provided for controlling the period duringwhich pressure isadmitted to the chamber and means'are also provided for forcibly holdingthe-workpiece A upon its seat during theperiod that pressure fluid isintroduced cludes a normally open-switch'S-1. Closingof the switchS-1-',, by' means to be described'hereinafter;energizes and opens thesolenoid-valve 31 to admit pressure fluid to chamber 17.

The means for forciblyseatingthe workpiece A- includes ahead: or jig'33that is mounted on thetable 3 for limited vertical movementby means'ofcolumns-'35. The tool shank 9 is capable of both axial and rotarymovement.

relative to the head 33 and asasupport for the lower end of the-shank 9,the'head may have a bushing 37 through which the shank passes (Fig. 3)';The head 33carries a collar 39 which surrounds the tool 15 and engagesthe' periphery of thevalvebo'dy B to'forcibly'hold' it upon the O ring-19. The rear of'thecollar39may engageth e bal- Patented Man 13, 1956'ated four-way valve 51 with the pressure line 53 and the exhaust line55. The valve 51 may be spring biased to interconnect lines 53 and 49and therefore admit pressure air to the bottom of the cylinder. Uponenergization of the solenoid, the valve connects the lines 53 and 47 andtherefore admits air to the top of the cylinder. The solenoid isconnected by leads C-2 to the bus line L1 and current flow is controlledby a normally open switch 5-2 which is actuated by means to be describedhereinafter.

The piston rod of the cylinder 45 has a rack portion 57 that is guidedin a suitable slot in the bracket or fixture 59 that serves to attachthe cylinder to the table 3. The rack 57 drives a pinion 61 which iskeyed to a cross shaft 63 that is journaled at one end in an arm 65 thatextends from the fixture 59. The other end of the shaft 63 is journaledin a support 67 that is mounted on the table 3 and rotatively carries apinion 69. This pinion drives a rack 71 that is secured to the rear ofthe head 33. It will be evident that upon energization of the valve 51to connect lines 53 and 47 to drive the rack 57 downwardly, the shaft 63will be rotated in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4,resulting in downward movement of the head 33 until the collar 39forcibly seats the workpiece A on the O ring 19.

The switches S-1 and 8-2 control the admission of pressure to thechamber 17 and the movement of the support jig 33. When 5-1 is closedthe solenoid valve 31 is opened to admit pressure through line 23 tochamber 17, and when S2 is closed, the solenoid four-way valve 51 isenergized to admit pressure to the top of cylinder 45 and drive the head33 in a downward direction. These switches are closed by means of camsthat are mounted on the handle shaft 13.

The cam 73 (Fig. 5) closes the switch S-2 through the agency of itsfollower 75. The cam 77 (Fig. 1) closes the switch S1 through the agencyof its follower 79. It will be evident that as the operator rotates theshaft 13 through the medium of handle 11 to feed the tool 15 toward theworkpiece, the cam 73 will close its switch S-2 before the cam 77 closesits switch S1. Thus, the head will have engaged the workpiece to preventmovement thereof by the time pressure is admitted to chamber 17. Whenthe handle 11 is moved upwardly to raise the spinning tool 15, the cam77 will release its switch S-1 and cut ofi pressure to chamber 17 beforethe cam 73 releases the switch 8-2 to raise the head 33.

After the tool 15 contacts the neck C, further feed motion of the shank9 by downward movement of the handle 11 will progressively spin more ofthe neck over upon the disk D and therefore increase the pressure withwhich the spring holds the apertures in the valve body B closed. Thispressure, of course, determines the pressure of the fluid in the chamber17 which is escaping through these ports. When this pressure reaches thedesired amount as indicated by gauge 27, the operator ceases downwardmovement of the handle 11 and moves it upwardly. As already described,this stops the flow of pressure to the chamber 17 and raises the head 33so that he can remove the workpiece A from the recess 7 and placeanother therein.

It will be readily apparent that various modifications may be made inthe construction shown. For example, the gauge 27 may be replaced by anadjustable pressure switch to automatically control feed movementWithout departing from the broad principles and advantages of theinvention. Furthermore, the invention may be employed in operationsother than spinning, simple pressing, for example. It is therefore notintended to restrict the invention to the specific details ofconstruction shown herein by way of illustration.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for assembling and prcloading first and second partsof a workpiece by deforming a portion of the first part over upon thesecond part, said first part having an aperture whereby fluid pressurecan be applied to the second part in a direction opposite to thedirection of assembly and prcloading and whereby deformation of thefirst part urges the second part to re strict fluid flow through theaperture, the combination of a bed for a workpiece, means for applyingfluid pressure to the side of a workpiece resting on said bed so that itcommunicates with the aperture in the first part, said means including apressure chamber having the aperture as an outlet, and axially movabletool operatively engageable with the other side of the workpiece todeform the first part portion, valve means for controlling theapplication of fluid pressure, common means for controlling axialmovement of the tool and operation of the valve means so that fluidpressure is applied during engagement of the tool with the workpiece,and a pressure responsive device connected to said fluid pressure forindicating the magnitude thereof.

2. In an apparatus for assembling and prcloading first and second partsof a workpiece by deforming a portion of the first part over upon thesecond part, said first part having an aperture whereby fluid pressurecan be applied to the second part in a direction opposite to thedirection of assembly and prcloading and whereby deformation of thefirst part urges the second part to restrict fluid flow through theaperture, the combination of a bed for a workpiece, first means forapplying fluid pressure to that side of a workpiece resting on said bedso that it communicates with the aperture in the first part, said meansincluding a pressure chamber having the aperture as an outlet, a valvefor controlling the flow of fluid to the chamber, a movable headengageable with the other side of the workpiece to prevent lifting ofthe workpiece from the bed by fluid pressure, an axially movable toolextending through and guided by the head and operatively engageable withthe workpiece to deform the first part portion, second means for movingthe head, third means for moving the tool, fourth means actuated bymovement of the tool to a predetermined position for actuating thesecond means, fifth means actuated by movement of the tool to apredetermined position for actuating the valve so that fluid pressure isapplied during engagement of the tool with the workpiece, and a pressureresponsive device connected to said fluid pressure for indicating themagnitude thereof.

3. In an apparatus for assembling and prcloading first and second partsof a workpiece by deforming a portion of the first part over upon thesecond part, said first part having an aperture whereby fluid pressurecan be applied to the second part in a direction opposite to thedirection of assembly and prcloading and whereby deformation of thefirst part urges the second part to restrict fluid flow through theaperture, the combination of a bed for a workpiece, first means forapplying fluid pressure to that side of a workpiece resting on said bedso that it communicates with the aperture in the first part, said meansincluding a pressure chamber having the aperture as an outlet, a valvefor controlling the flow of fluid to the chamber, said valve beingsolenoid-operated, a movable head engageable with the other side of theworkpiece to prevent lifting of the workpiece from the bed by fluidpressure, an axially movable tool extending through and guided by thehead and operatively engageable with the workpiece to deform the firstpart portion, second means for moving the head, third means for movingthe tool, fourth means actuated by movement of the tool to apredetermined position for actuating the second means, fifth meansincluding a cam and a limit switch operated by the cam for controllingthe solenoid actuated by movement of the tool to a predeterminedposition so that fluid pressure is applied during engagement of the toolwith the workpiece, and a pressure responsive device connected to saidfluid pressure for indicating the magnitude thereof.

4. In a machine for attaching a flexible disk to the neck of and over anaperture of a body by spinning the neck upon the disk, the combinationof a bed for the body, means including a passage in the bed for applyingfluid pressure to the side of the body opposite the disk and neck, saidside of the body resting on the bed and forming a pressure chamber withsaid passage with the aperture in the body as an outlet to the chamber,a pressure gauge operatively connected to the passage, a valve forcontrolling the flow of fluid to the bed, a first cam for controllingthe valve, a movable head engageable with the other side of theworkpiece to prevent lifting thereof from the bed by fluid pressure inthe chamber, an axially movable spinning tool operatively engageablewith the neck of a workpiece and acting against fluid pressure in thechamber and having a shank extending through and guided by the head,manually operated means connected to the shank for axially moving thetool, a pressure cylinder operatively connected to the head for movingthe same, valve means for controlling the pressure cylinder, a secondcam for controlling the valve means, said first and second cams beingconnected to the shank and moved by axial movement thereof and arrangedso that the valve is open only when the head engages the body.

5. The method of assembling a resilient valve port cover on a valve bodycontaining the ports so that the cover has a predetermined initialsetting comprising the steps of supporting the body with the coverdisposed in operative relation to said ports, applying fluid pressurethrough said ports against said cover while simultaneously applyingforce to clamp the cover to the body in opposition to said pressureuntil said pressure reaches a value substantially equal to said initialsetting, and then ceasing application of force and application ofpressure.

6. In an apparatus for assembling and preloading first and second partsof a workpiece by deforming a portion of the first part over upon thesecond part, said first part having an aperture whereby fluid pressurecan be applied to the second part in a direction opposite to thedirection of assembly and preloading and whereby deformation of thefirst part urges the second part to restrict fluid flow through theaperture, the combination of a bed for a workpiece, first means forapplying fluid pressure to that side of a workpiece resting on said bedso that it communicates with the aperture in the first part, said firstmeans including a pressure chamber having the aperture as an outlet anda fluid passage for the flow of fluid to said chamber, an axiallymovable tool operatively engageable with the other side of the workpieceto deform the first part portion, second means for axially moving saidtool, a movable head also engageable with the other side of theworkpiece to prevent lifting of the workpiece from the bed by said fluidpressure, third head moving means connected to said second means andcontrolled by axial tool movement for actuating the head, fourth meansconnected to said second means and controlled by axial tool movement forcontrolling the flow of pres sure fluid through said passage so thatfluid pressure is applied during engagement of the tool with theworkpiece, and a pressure responsive device connected to said fluidpressure for indicating the magnitude thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,511,202 Rabezzana Oct. 7, 1924 1,777,772 Shera Oct. 7, 1930 1,836,921Harrison Dec. 15, 1931 1,842,571 Sebell Jan. 26, 1932 1,915,661 GibsonJune 27, 1933 1,946,756 Oberg Feb. 13, 1934 2,006,691 Giesler July 2,1935 2,143,429 Auble Jan. 10, 1939 2,223,324 Kosatka Nov. 26, 19402,446,621 Thiry Aug. 10, 1948

